House Democrats Planning Push to Make Private Gun Sales Illegal

Dems plan to introduce new legislation that will criminalize private firearm sales

House Democrats plan to make private gun sale illegal once new Congress is in session

House Democrats are planning to push for new legislation that will criminalize private sales of guns in the United States.

Dems plan to introduce the new anti-gun measure as soon as the new Congress is in sessions, according to reports.

A report by Mother Jones reveals that Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) has held meetings with gun control groups that included Everytown for Gun Safety, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, the Center for American Progress, and Gabby Giffords’ group.

During these meets, Thompson reportedly asked them what the Democratic Party can do for them, and a bill to make private gun sales illegal was high on their list of priorities.

"While the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right of private citizens to keep and bear arms, there are some limits and regulations on how they are sold and who may possess them.

"Federally licensed firearms dealers are required by federal law to conduct background checks on prospective buyers, but private (unlicensed) sellers are not.

"Some states require background checks for private sales, usually through a licensed intermediary, but others have few to no regulations on private gun sales."

Mike Thompson asked anti-gun groups what the Democratic Party can do to help them

Ironically, a ban on private sales would not have stopped a single mass shooting witnessed to this point in the 21st century because nearly every mass shooter acquires his guns at retail via a background check.

The exceptions to the rule are the mass shooters who steal their guns.

While the Democrats’ gun control push will not prevent mass shootings, it will criminalize a grandfather for passing his goose gun to his grandson without government permission.

It will also criminalize a mother who gives her college-age daughter a revolver for self-defense without first getting government permission.